Images: Webber spins his magic in Monaco

Webber tops F1 leaderboard

Mark Webber swept to victory in the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday in a Red Bull one-two that catapulted the Australian to the top of the Formula One leaderboard.

The first Australian winner in the Mediterranean principality since triple world champion Jack Brabham in 1959, Webber led from pole to finish for his second victory in a row and fourth of his career.

"Absolutely incredible, for sure this is the greatest day of my life today," Webber said.

The last Australian to lead the world championship was Alan Jones in 1981.

In a race punctuated by crashes and four safety car periods, including the last three laps, Germany's Sebastian Vettel anchored Red Bull's second one-two in six races with Poland's Robert Kubica third for Renault.

Vettel gives double joy for Red Bull

Vettel crossed the line just 0.4 seconds behind the triumphant Webber, with the field queuing up behind the safety car to the final corner as the Red Bull mechanics leant over the pitwall to clap them home.

Alonso finishes sixth after exciting race

He pitted at the end of the first lap for fresh tyres as the safety car was deployed while marshals dealt with debris left scattered across the track after Nico Hulkenberg crashed his Williams in the tunnel.

Alonso then scythed repeatedly past the slow backmarkers as they exited the tunnel and moved further up as rivals then made their pitstops, before losing sixth place at the last corner to seven times champion Michael Schumacher.

That incident was being investigated by stewards, one of whom was Schumacher's old rival and former world champion Damon Hill.

Schumi misses record-equalling sixth title in Monaco

The safety car was again in action after lap 31 when Brazilian Rubens Barrichello spun and ended up facing the wrong way on the uphill approach to Casino Square and 12 laps later when a loose drain cover was reported.

Barrichello, clearly unhappy, tossed his steering wheel out of the Williams cockpit and into the path of a passing car, that ran over it.

Schumacher, who might have dreamed of taking a record equalling sixth Monaco win in his comeback season with Mercedes at the age of 41, again beat team-mate Nico Rosberg who was eighth.

Trulli poops Chandok's party

Only 12 of the 24 cars were still running at the finish, with the safety car again deployed on the 75th of the 78 laps when Italian Jarno Trulli and Indian Karun Chandhok collided at the tight and slow Rascasse corner.

Lotus driver Trulli tried to go past the HRT on the inside and then rode up over it.